No. 2 Delta State clashes with No. 1 North Alabama

The Gulf South Conference is down to five members this year, yet two of those are the nation’s top-ranked Division II football teams.
No. 1 North Alabama (6-0) entertains No. 2 Delta State (6-1) tonight at 7 at Braly Stadium in Florence, Ala., in a game to be seen regionally on CSS.
The broadcast will also be streamed live by ESPN3.
It’s the league opener for both teams, and tonight’s winner will have a huge edge in the race for the championship of the GSC, which saw its six Arkansas members defect before the season began.
“We’re still the toughest conference in the country,” said Delta State coach Ron Roberts. “With just four conference games, there is not any room for error.”
The rivals split a pair of games last year, each winning at home. Delta’s 47-24 victory came in the national quarterfinals on the way to the D-II title game, which the Statemen lost, 20-17, to Minnesota-Duluth.
It’s the 45th time North Alabama has played as the No. 1 ranked team. The Lions are 41-3 in such matchups.